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Download UPSC Mains Syllabus 2025 PDF and check the complete paper-wise syllabus for GS, Essay, Optional & Language papers. Understand exam pattern, marking scheme, and prepare smartly for CSE Mains. Direct download link available.
Madhavi Gaur
June 02, 2025
UPSC Mains Syllabus is an important component of the Civil Services Examination 2025, meticulously designed to test a candidate’s intellectual depth, writing skills, and comprehensive understanding of a wide range of subjects. Unlike the Preliminary stage, which is objective in nature, the Mains examination is subjective and analytical, requiring candidates to write elaborate answers within a stipulated time.
Understanding what is UPSC Mains Syllabus and preparing accordingly is essential for every serious aspirant aiming to succeed in one of the most prestigious competitive exams in India. Interested candidates read on to get a detailed and structured overview of the UPSC Mains Syllabus 2025, including its paper-wise breakup, qualifying criteria, and topic-wise coverage.
The UPSC Mains refers to the second stage of the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. It comprises nine papers, including two qualifying papers and seven papers that are counted for merit. These papers are aimed at evaluating a candidate’s academic capabilities, coherence of thought, critical thinking, and ability to express ideas effectively. The UPSC Mains Syllabus 2025 is structured as follows:
The UPSC Mains Examination consists of nine papers, out of which seven papers are counted for merit and two are qualifying in nature. These nine papers are:
| Qualifying Papers (Not Counted for Merit) | ||
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
| Paper A | One Indian Language (from Eighth Schedule) | 300 |
| Paper B | English | 300 |
These papers must be cleared with a minimum of 25% marks. Failure to do so results in disqualification, irrespective of performance in merit papers.
| Papers Counted for Merit | ||
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
| Paper I | Essay | 250 |
| Paper II | General Studies I | 250 |
| Paper III | General Studies II | 250 |
| Paper IV | General Studies III | 250 |
| Paper V | General Studies IV | 250 |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject – Paper I | 250 |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject – Paper II | 250 |
| Total (Written) | 1750 | |
| Personality Test | 275 | |
| Grand Total | 2025 | |
Each paper in the UPSC Mains Syllabus requires a comprehensive understanding and focused preparation. To ensure holistic coverage, many aspirants rely on upsc syllabus paper wise preparation strategies.
UPSC Mains Syllabus PDF Download 2025 is made available by the Union Public Service Commission on its official website. Candidates preparing for the Civil Services Examination 2025 can access the complete syllabus, including all General Studies papers, Essay paper, Optional subjects, and Language papers, in a consolidated format.
Downloading the UPSC Mains Syllabus PDF ensures structured preparation and clarity regarding the scope of each subject. Aspirants are advised to refer to the official UPSC syllabus PDF to avoid any misinformation and to plan their study schedule effectively.
For the convenience of aspirants, we have also provided the direct link below. By referring to the link below, candidates can easily access the syllabus PDF:
| UPSC Mains Syllabus PDF Download 2025 |
| Click Here |
| UPSC Mains Syllabus PDF Download 2025 (Hindi) |
| Click Here |
The UPSC syllabus for the compulsory language paper includes:
Languages in the Eighth Schedule include Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati, and more. Here is the list of all 22 languages mentioned in the Eighth Schedule:
| UPSC Syllabus for Compulsory Language Paper | |
| S.No | Language |
| 1 | Assamese |
| 2 | Bengali |
| 3 | Gujarati |
| 4 | Hindi |
| 5 | Kannada |
| 6 | Kashmiri |
| 7 | Konkani |
| 8 | Malayalam |
| 9 | Manipuri |
| 10 | Marathi |
| 11 | Nepali |
| 12 | Odiya |
| 13 | Punjabi |
| 14 | Sanskrit |
| 15 | Sindhi |
| 16 | Tamil |
| 17 | Telugu |
| 18 | Urdu |
| 19 | Bodo |
| 20 | Dogri |
| 21 | Maithili |
| 22 | Santhali |
The UPSC Syllabus Essay requires writing two essays, one from each section provided in the question paper. These essays evaluate the candidate’s ability to structure arguments, present viewpoints, and write clearly. Topics may include:
This paper significantly contributes to the final score and is a necessary area of focus in the UPSC Mains Syllabus.
The UPSC Mains Syllabus for General Studies comprises four distinct papers (GS Paper I to GS Paper IV), each tailored to assess a candidate’s depth of knowledge, analytical thinking, and awareness of societal issues.
These papers cover a broad spectrum of disciplines, from history and geography to ethics and governance. Mastering each of these sections is critical for aspirants aiming to secure high ranks in the Civil Services Examination.
This paper assesses knowledge of India’s cultural legacy, modern history, societal issues, and geography.
This paper focuses on the political-administrative framework and India’s external relations.
This section evaluates understanding of modern issues such as the economy, technology, and the environment.
This paper tests moral thinking and administrative ethics.
Candidates must choose one optional subject from a list of 48 subjects for the two papers (Paper VI and VII). The UPSC Mains Optional Syllabus is designed to test specialisation and depth of knowledge in a particular field, such as:
| UPSC Mains Optional Syllabus 2025 | |
| S. No | Optional Subject |
| 1 | Agriculture |
| 2 | Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science |
| 3 | Anthropology |
| 4 | Botany |
| 5 | Chemistry |
| 6 | Civil Engineering |
| 7 | Commerce and Accountancy |
| 8 | Economics |
| 9 | Electrical Engineering |
| 10 | Geography |
| 11 | Geology |
| 12 | History |
| 13 | Law |
| 14 | Management |
| 15 | Mathematics |
| 16 | Mechanical Engineering |
| 17 | Medical Science |
| 18 | Philosophy |
| 19 | Physics |
| 20 | Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) |
| 21 | Psychology |
| 22 | Public Administration |
| 23 | Sociology |
| 24 | Statistics |
| 25 | Zoology |
| 26 | Assamese Literature |
| 27 | Bengali Literature |
| 28 | Bodo Literature |
| 29 | Dogri Literature |
| 30 | Gujarati Literature |
| 31 | Hindi Literature |
| 32 | Kannada Literature |
| 33 | Kashmiri Literature |
| 34 | Konkani Literature |
| 35 | Maithili Literature |
| 36 | Malayalam Literature |
| 37 | Manipuri Literature |
| 38 | Marathi Literature |
| 39 | Nepali Literature |
| 40 | Odia Literature |
| 41 | Punjabi Literature |
| 42 | Sanskrit Literature |
| 43 | Santhali Literature |
| 44 | Sindhi Literature |
| 45 | Tamil Literature |
| 46 | Telugu Literature |
| 47 | Urdu Literature |
| 48 | English Literature |
Each optional subject has its distinct syllabus and weightage, contributing 500 marks to the total.
The UPSC Mains Syllabus is vast, multidisciplinary, and intellectually demanding. It requires a methodical approach to learning, strong writing ability, and a keen understanding of both static and dynamic subjects. Whether one is tackling the UPSC syllabus for General Studies, the UPSC syllabus essay, or preparing for the UPSC syllabus for compulsory language paper, thorough preparation aligned with the syllabus framework is key to success.
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